WASTE DISPOSAL IN THE METROPOLITAN COUNTIES (Hansard, 16 October 1985)

§ The Minister of State, Department of the Environment (Lord Elton)

In four of the six metropolitan counties—Tyne and Wear, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and West Midlands, we have received joint proposals from all the district councils. If these can be put into effect by means of binding agreements between the districts it appears that they will make satisfactory joint arrangements for the discharge of waste disposal functions.

In London, proposals put forward by Bromley, Croydon, Kingston upon Thames, Merton and Sutton (London boroughs "Group 1") and by the Cities of London and Westminster ("Group 6") for the operational aspects of waste disposal, if carried into 698WA effect, would also appear to make satisfactory joint arrangements for these purposes. Also in London, the London Boroughs of Ealing, Harrow, Hillingdon, and Richmond upon Thames ("Group 3") have invited the Secretary of State to exercise his powers under Section 10 of the Local Government Act 1985 in due course to set up a single authority for the operational aspects of waste dispoal to cover their areas and adjoining boroughs in West London.

In Greater London, we have received no agreed proposals for joint arrangements for the regulation of hazardous waste, where we have indicated that we see advantages in such arrangements. However, a number of London boroughs have put forward proposals, or have indicated that they would welcome the Secretary of State using his powers under Section 10 to set up a single authority for this purpose. Nor have we received proposals in respect of the operational aspects in the London boroughs (other than those I have already mentioned) adequate to rule out the need to fulfil the duty to set up single authorities laid upon the Secretary of State by Section 10.

None of the various proposals received from district councils in Greater Manchester or Mersey side appear in current circumstances to represent satisfactory arrangements for either the regulatory or the operational aspects of waste disposal. Four district councils, Wigan and Bolton in Greater Manchester and Wirral and Sefton in Merseyside, proposed that they should be allowed to operate independently, for, at least, the operational aspects of waste disposal. There is such a community of interest between each of these four authorities and their neighbouring districts, that there would appear to be clear advantage in joint arrangements. If proposals which include these authorities are not made by 15th November, it therefore seems likely that the Secretary of State would have to use his powers under Section 10 to set up single authorities. However, the establishment of such authorities in Greater Manchester and Merseyside would not preclude other arrangements being substituted at some future date if the situation were to change.

Those councils whose proposed arrangements appear satisfactory have now been invited to prepare formal documentation for these arrangements. A further announcement will be made after 15th November on the proposed use of the powers under Section 10 to set up single authorities for areas where joint arrangements would be advantageous but no such satisfactory arrangements have been made by the due date.